Meet And Greet

Two hours later Troy was dressed in a tailored suit and tie and spraying fabreeze to rid the smell of sex out of the air. He had already disposed of the sheets and set them to wash, Maria would be coming to work soon to clean up after him and he didn't find it appropriate to put her through that. She was like a mother to him, and he wouldn't want his own mother, to clean up after him having a good roll in the hay.

Setting the can of spray on the nightstand he straightened out his suit jacket and picked up his briefcase as he made his way to the door getting ready to head out to work. Before he could get his hand on the knob it was already being opened. He never locked his door, the Penthouse he lived in was high class and he didn't have to worry about security issues. It wasn't like the urban Harlem neighborhood he grew up in. Troy felt safe and secure where he was, there was no need for extra measures. He loved the luxury of that. Mrs. Maria looked surprised as she held a hand up to her chest, "Oh Troy, you scared me." She hit his arm playfully, moving to the side so that he could walk out the door. Troy chuckled, "Sorry Maria, I didn't know you were there."

She smiled rubbing down her apron and switching her carrier of cleaning supplies to her left arm. " I know I know, I'm so used to just walking in, maybe I should start knocking ey?" She teased. Troy didn't really have a problem with her walking in but knocking would be nice, especially when he has company. Mrs. Maria had it bad with just waltzing in without notice, even if he was expecting her. Being that she not only owned the cleaning company she voluntarily worked for, but her husband owned the very building Troy's lavish penthouse was located, Maria felt she had free reign. He shook his head still smiling lightly, "Yeah, maybe you should."

Maria just laughed waving him off so that she could get to her job and he could get to his.

"Alright Alright, I'm going." Troy began to walk away but stopped remembering something, "Wait, Maria, I forgot to tell you I put some sheets to wash, so just be sure to take them out for me and put them to dry if you don't mind.." He trailed off, even though it was her job he still thought it polite to ask. Troy didn't grow up with a silver spoon in his mouth, he learned manners and that life wasn't a piece of cake. His mother taught him to respect his elders and others no matter what they did for a living or who they were.

Mrs. Maria Obliged but huffed, though it was none of her business, she thought of Troy like her own son and saw the sense of sadness every time he "cleaned the sheets."

"You keep messing around with these young girls Troy and you're never going to find a wife," she said in a motherly tone. Troy had heard it all before, he rubbed a hand to the back of his neck, " Maria I get it, I'm working on it. Look, I got a few cases to handle so I need to get going, but thank you for cleaning my place." She waved him off again, "It's what I do Mijo, now you go make the big bucks." He never understood why a rich woman like Maria would willingly clean other people's homes for a living, but Maria explained to him once that it kept her humble and of course busy. All of her kids were grown and living their own lives, there was really nothing else for her to do. According to her at least. Troy could see him self traveling the world at her age.

He laughed and bid her goodbye as he made his way to the elevator. Pressing the button to go down he noticed a fine young thing walking towards him, she batted her eyes his way and he flashed her a charming smile but turned his head laughing lightly. She was fine, no doubt, but Troy was looking for a woman, a grown woman. He was tired of the same ole and it was time to settle down. The elevator dinged as it made its arrival and Troy entered leaving the young woman to watch him depart.

Making it into the office; Troy spotted his assistant, Avery, on the phone at her desk. He waved to acknowledge her and she smiled back continuing her conversation. "Uh-huh, yes sir Mr. Riley, he just made it in." Overhearing her and knowing now who she was talking to Troy waved his arms in a 'No way' gesture. Avery tried to backtrack "Uhhh actually he's about to go into a meeting." Troy gave her a thumbs up. "No, he's not standing in front of me." she stumbled out just as Troy was getting ready to walk into his office, he stepped back swearing as Avery's eyes met his giving him a panicked look. "He's—— No——-You don't—-." She looked away from Troy suppressing a giggle, " I can't say that to my boss Mr.Riley... Mhm, okay I'll be sure to tell him. Have a good day sir." Avery hangs up the phone.

Troy looked at her and sighed, "He's on his way isn't he?" It wasn't a question. Troy and Kevin Riley had been boys for years, best-friends since elementary and he knew him like the back of his hand. He did not have time for Kevin's antics this morning.

Avery tried to hide her smile, "He's in the parking garage." She loved it when Mr.Riley came through the building, though Mr. Alexander acted like he hated when his best-friend stopped by it somehow always put him in a good mood after he left. That meant less work for her, plus Mr.Riley was fine as hell if she had to admit it to herself.

"Damn it." He swore sucking his teeth, "Did he say what he wanted?" He didn't even know why he asked that question himself as Avery raised an eyebrow as if to say 'Are you serious?'

"Right." huffing like a big kid Troy finally made it into his office closing the door behind him just so Kevin wouldn't have easy access to his last nerve. He sat in his spin chair and looked out his giant New York-style windows at the beautiful city of L.A below. His office was decked out with Ivory wallpaper, a sturdy mahogany desk sat in the middle of his office with a picture frame of himself making a partner. An apple computer-centered it with a pair of stress balls sitting at the very corner. Stacks of paperwork fanned out on the surface being held down by a stapler and paperweight next to a phone. Behind it, was a glass wall of windows that overlooked the city below. Though it was his place of work, it was one of his favorite places to be for a piece of serenity.